The Refugee Action Coalition in Australia says a ruling by Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court allowing a legal challenge against the asylum-seeker deal between Australia and PNG is a very welcome development.
Five Supreme Court judges have unanimously ruled in favour of granting opposition leader Belden Namah standing to legally challenge the government.
A spokesperson for the Coalition, Ian Rintoul, says there seems to be very solid grounds for the constitutional case.
"If that can go ahead, that finding will have huge repercussions both in PNG and in Australia because ultimately it could mean the arrangements in Manus Island are actually unconstitutional, are illegal and hopefully it will force Australia to stop sending people to PNG."
Ian Rintoul says PNG's constitution rules out the detention of anybody who is not charged with a criminal offence.
